Articles & Essays

Leaders in small Nebraska communities are sending the message to students that a successful and happy life can be obtained in a small hometown. Some are giving away unique gifts. Others have created scholarship incentives. And, many are connecting with students through classes and encouraging business partnerships to share the story with students that a successful career and life can happen in rural Nebraska instead of in crowded urban areas…

Fans of live acoustic music are finding their way from across the country to tiny Loomis, Nebraska, where Tim and Bev Rehm have created a concert series featuring award-winning singers and songwriters. Nebraska Rural Living writer Mike VaughnWilliams tells about the welcoming atmosphere, the great music and the 13 years of building a unique concert experience in rural Nebraska…

A challenge from friends inspired writer Kristi Dvorak to begin running three years ago. She laced up her running shoes and eventually found joy in the serenity of running rural roads that ‘lead to nowhere.’ Her essay about finding her grit running on roads surrounded by cornfields, freshly cut alfalfa, and steep canyons may just inspire you to take up running or reach your own fitness goals in 2018…

A few common themes continue to emerge about why people chose to live and work in rural Nebraska: The simplicity of rural life, the sense of community and belonging in small towns and the benefits of raising kids in rural Nebraska. We asked some of our recent sources and our Nebraska Rural Living writers to share their thoughts about why they think rural Nebraska is a great place to raise kids…

Eighteen years ago, rural Nebraska artist Sondra Jonson of Cambridge created the “Rachel Weeping for Her Children” bronze sculpture at the Fatima Shrine in Arapahoe. In this essay, Sondra shares her thoughts about the shrine and sculpture, and what it means to her legacy to have been involved with this project…

When big-city careers made life unbalanced and hectic, Tina Stokes and her young family decided to move back to rural Nebraska. Now, Tina has redefined her career success to fit her small-town values and is making it possible for others to do the same with a coworking space she created called PERCH…

Bob and Linda Burchell Ard exemplify the pioneer spirit as owners of a rural Minden restaurant and bed and breakfast, Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn. In this essay, writer Meredith Fuller shares the story of the Burchell family pioneers and how the past and the future have much in common…

Merritt Reservoir south of Valentine offers some of the best camping, fishing and boating in rural Nebraska. As we bid farewell to summer, enjoy these beautiful photos of Merritt Reservoir captured by NRL summer intern Stacey Kaslon…

Food nourishes our body, art nourishes our soul; a venue that provides both might be considered a “most unlikely place.” In the small Western Nebraska town of Lewellen, just such a place exists; and it goes by that exact name: “The Most Unlikely Place.” And, indeed it is…

Arnold is the epitome of Nebraska’s state slogan “Visit Nebraska. Visit Nice.” In fact, some people from across the United States and Canada say it’s the friendliest place they’ve ever visited. For one week each summer, Arnold residents open their homes to strangers who visit their small town to compete in the Sandhills Open Road Challenge…

Bird watchers flocked to south-central Nebraska this spring, but many waterfowl and cranes did not. Why was there a decline in bird numbers, and will they return next year? Find out about the partnerships between ag producers and wildlife biologists to preserve and protect area wetlands in this educational essay written by Doreen Pfost…